When I found out that every county I have lived in ran its recycling program at a net loss I do not bother. I haul a lot of stuff to the incinerator from my rentals and pay thru the nose to do so. The scrap metal does go to the recycle place in exchange for cash. If they won’t give you money for it it is not worth doing. Now usable furniture I put out to the curb and it seems to vanish quite quickly.
I can tear down a couch-chair-mattress and it goes in the curby. The springs are saved and trucked to a bone yard at 10c a pound with all other metal. I laugh when they pick up my three recycle bins with every scrap of paper plastic and cans I can get in it. I have 15 rentals and make good use of the system. Saves me a ton of cash. I love those people.